The United States is able to finally move forward in its cyber defense efforts

After months
of delays and speculation, President Obama has chosen Howard
Schmidt, a corporate cyber security expert who also worked at
Microsoft and eBay, to enhance the country's cyber
infrastructure.

Schmidt, who also was an administration
adviser for former
President George W. Bush, will be responsible for coordinating
military and civilian resources. Furthermore, the latest member
of Obama's cabinet will communicate regularly with Obama, and will
also work with the president's economic group.

President Obama
first announced the creation of the cyber czar position in late May,
but said there wouldn't be a rush to appoint someone. Schmidt
will work with the National Security Council, not the National
Economic Council, as this is the first time a person has been
appointed as cybersecurity adviser.

In the previous
administration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the
National Security Agency (NSA) were involved in a power struggle that
led to ineffective cyber security.